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927 Days of Summer: Around the World in a VW Van
In their book Drive Nacho Drive, Brad and Sheena Van Orden traded the American Dream for the open road, and set off in their temperamental 1984 VW van named "Nacho." After thirteen months of humorous and sometimes demoralizing misadventures along the Pan-American Highway, our intrepid subjects eventually arrived at the southernmost town in the world in Tierra del Fuego. This is where 927 Days of Summer picks up the trail. After shipping Nacho from Argentina to Malaysia on a container ship, Brad and Sheena resume their journey, this time with the ambitious goal of driving all the way around the world. When they roll out of the shipping container onto Malaysian soil, their odometer turns over 300,000 miles. Is Nacho really up for the brutal journey ahead?This hilarious, and often harrowing tale follows them through the sweltering jungles of Southeast Asia, the buzzing hornet's nest of India, into the remote Nepalese Himalayas, through the stony hills of Anatolia to the Sahara Desert in Africa, through Europe and beyond. Whether dodging rickshaws on crater-filled roads, defying Maoist rebels on cliff-hanging Himalayan tracks, getting hopelessly stuck in the desert on the Pakistani border, or becoming the subjects of an international missing persons case in the remote mountains of Laos, there is never a dull moment in 927 Days of Summer. Come along as a diverse cast of characters guides our subjects through a world of unfolding landscapes and cultures on the road trip to end all road trips, and then ask can you really just go home, unpack, and eat a sandwich?
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
55 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 15, 2015
An incredible read!!!
Ever since Drive Nacho Drive came out (and their blog before that) my husband and I have referred to Brad and Sheena like old friends. Reading their books feel like you're listening to an incredible story told simultaneously, the way only couples can tell a story. It's funny, informative, and so charming! There is no way you can read this and not want to see the places and meet the people that Brad and Sheena have. They've inspired my husband and I to be brave and follow in their footsteps to adventure and a simpler life!
Ever since Drive Nacho Drive came out (and their blog before that) my husband and I have referred to Brad and Sheena like old friends. Reading their books feel like you're listening to an incredible story told simultaneously, the way only couples can tell a story. It's funny, informative, and so charming! There is no way you can read this and not want to see the places and meet the people that Brad and Sheena have. They've inspired my husband and I to be brave and follow in their footsteps to adventure and a simpler life!
September 6, 2020
I would never admit to being an expert on travel-writing. What little I have read tends to paint, if not idyllic, relatively rosy experiences of travel. Not so with the Van Orden's account of their journey around the world in a VW Vanagon.
It began with driving from Arizona to the southern-most tip of South America (Drive Nacho Drive) and continues in this book with their excursion from Malaysia, through India and the Middle-East, to Europe, then back to North America.
Their writing, the account of their experience is so authentic, visceral at times, that I felt like I was right there beside them. Which was not always good. For much of their journey, I'm glad I wasn't; I'm perfectly happy to have traveled vicariously through them. If anything, they (unintentionally) showed me where not to travel, while sharing a few true gems that I hope see one day.
It began with driving from Arizona to the southern-most tip of South America (Drive Nacho Drive) and continues in this book with their excursion from Malaysia, through India and the Middle-East, to Europe, then back to North America.
Their writing, the account of their experience is so authentic, visceral at times, that I felt like I was right there beside them. Which was not always good. For much of their journey, I'm glad I wasn't; I'm perfectly happy to have traveled vicariously through them. If anything, they (unintentionally) showed me where not to travel, while sharing a few true gems that I hope see one day.
June 27, 2018
Wonderful book
I read their other book and now finished this one. Great insight to the other parts of the world. I wouldn't be brave enough to cross over into some of those countries, but it was great to read someone else's experience. It was Really an eye opener for some of the countries they were in. How inhuman it was. But their story covered it all. So greatly told. I would say to anyone who wants to hear about the countries on the other side of ours (USA) just grab their two books and sit back and enjoy. It's like You end up being with them and going through the troubles they had incurred. Great books.
I read their other book and now finished this one. Great insight to the other parts of the world. I wouldn't be brave enough to cross over into some of those countries, but it was great to read someone else's experience. It was Really an eye opener for some of the countries they were in. How inhuman it was. But their story covered it all. So greatly told. I would say to anyone who wants to hear about the countries on the other side of ours (USA) just grab their two books and sit back and enjoy. It's like You end up being with them and going through the troubles they had incurred. Great books.
July 3, 2020
Drive Nacho Drive
This book is very entertaining . I can picture in my mind the the people , the views and taste the food !
Such imagination and determination from both Brad and Sheena .I
I enjoy the bonding with people of all nationality and faith .
My only negative is that Brad quite often shows an open disrespect for the USA . For the opportunities afforded him
as a citizen . A loving family and wife , to competitively mountain bike ride , an education and career that provided them the financial ability to have this amazing experience . I'm looking forward to seeing Brad and Sheena's next Big Adventure !
This book is very entertaining . I can picture in my mind the the people , the views and taste the food !
Such imagination and determination from both Brad and Sheena .I
I enjoy the bonding with people of all nationality and faith .
My only negative is that Brad quite often shows an open disrespect for the USA . For the opportunities afforded him
as a citizen . A loving family and wife , to competitively mountain bike ride , an education and career that provided them the financial ability to have this amazing experience . I'm looking forward to seeing Brad and Sheena's next Big Adventure !
December 31, 2019
Excellent considering the genre.
November 21, 2022
Excellent read.
November 30, 2022
Drive nacho Drive was a more difficult read because because Brad took over. It also seemed like every chapter was a new adventure and did not follow along with the last travel adventure.
February 26, 2017
Wow just wow. Thx brad and Sheena.
Best travel book I've ever read. I wish all the policy people in dc would read it maybe this country would be better off.
Best travel book I've ever read. I wish all the policy people in dc would read it maybe this country would be better off.
February 12, 2017
J'aime les récits de voyages, les VWs et ce livre est absolument parfait. Certes, les auteurs sont attachants et cela fait beaucoup dans le succès de ce livre mais l'histoire et la philosophie qui s'en dégage est aussi pour beaucoup dans l'intérêt de cet ouvrage pour moi.
Alors, certes, c'est en Anglais... Mais franchement, cela en vaut la peine et c'est une excellente suite à "Drive Nacho, Drive" qui était leur précédent bouquin.
Ils semblent désormais, d'après leur Facebook, vouloir se mettre à la voile... So, happy sailings, friends and keep up the good work !
Alors, certes, c'est en Anglais... Mais franchement, cela en vaut la peine et c'est une excellente suite à "Drive Nacho, Drive" qui était leur précédent bouquin.
Ils semblent désormais, d'après leur Facebook, vouloir se mettre à la voile... So, happy sailings, friends and keep up the good work !
October 19, 2015
Amazing book, which makes me want to travel and meet new people in New Countries!
Adam and Sheena are heroes of sorts. They didn't buy in to the US media's reports that the rest of the world is scary, and that the United States is the only place safe. And, thank goodness they didn't! What an amazing story of friendship, open-mindedness , modern-day exploration, leadership, and setting goals and accomplishing them , even when it seems like all odds are against them.
Pick up the book , read it, and then think about what you've learned as a result of tagging along with these two adorable world travelers.
Adam and Sheena are heroes of sorts. They didn't buy in to the US media's reports that the rest of the world is scary, and that the United States is the only place safe. And, thank goodness they didn't! What an amazing story of friendship, open-mindedness , modern-day exploration, leadership, and setting goals and accomplishing them , even when it seems like all odds are against them.
Pick up the book , read it, and then think about what you've learned as a result of tagging along with these two adorable world travelers.
January 2, 2016
Take this journey with Brad and Sheena as they continue their journey through Asia and Europe is their Volkswagen camper van. Meet interesting people along they way while reading about the sounds,smells, food of different cultures. The story so full of humorous tales - you want be able to put it down and I found myself laughing out loud many times.
December 1, 2016
Brad and Sheena drive around the Wotld
Very well written account of two people driving from Malaysia west back to the U.S.A! I especially enjoyed reading about their interactions with the people they met!
Very well written account of two people driving from Malaysia west back to the U.S.A! I especially enjoyed reading about their interactions with the people they met!
October 23, 2015
I enjoyed this as much as I did Drive Nacho Drive. It felt like I was along for the ride; great story of a cool adventure.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews